As a part of the MacStories Apps Tree event ,I had the chance to interview Steven Snell, editor of Vandelay Design and DesignM.ag.

This is 14th of many interviews and guest posts I’ll publish on MacStories during this week.

Enjoy!

Hi! Can you please introduce yourself to MacStories readers?

I’m a web designer and blogger from New Jersey. I run Vandelay Design and a design blog called DesignM.ag, as well as a few niche gallery sites.

What can you tell us about the design scene in your country?

Web and graphic design is the only type of design that I get involved with, and typically I only have interaction with other designers that are in my network or through my blogs. There are a lot of designers in the U.S. (just like everywhere else I guess) in part because anybody can get started if they want to. I think the poor economy and mass layoffs over the past couple of years has led to even more people starting to freelance and pursuing a career in web design.

VandelayDesign has become one of the most popular design blogs out there. Are you doing this all by yourself? Can you please tell us something about your setup?

Yes, I’m the only one working on the Vandelay Design blog. I have had a few guest posts in the past but no paid contributors. At this point my process with the blog is to post 2 or 3 times per week, and I usually work 2 or 3 weeks ahead so I’m never in need of a post with no drafts ready to go. I actually spend considerably more time on DesignM.ag. Since the Vandelay Design blog has been around for a while now it really only requires time to produce content, moderate comments and stuff like that. In the early days I used to do more to promote the blog (like guest posts at other blogs, social media marketing, link building), but since the audience is established now I mostly focus on content.

Have you ever tried other apps besides Photoshop / Illustrator?

About 8 years ago when I was taking a course on web design we actually learned Paint Shop Pro (I think it was version 7 at that point). I used that for a while until I got more serious about web design and working with clients and bought Photoshop CS2. I’ve also done very limited work with GIMP in the past few years just to try it out. I thought it was pretty good for a free Photoshop alternative. I think I have Corel Draw that I picked up somewhere, but I’ve never taken the time to use it.

Which are your favourite Windows apps?

I can’t think of any Windows-only apps that I use on a regular basis. I use Fanurio for invoicing and that is multi-platform. I try to keep the number of apps and programs that I use to a minimum for simplicity.

Is your blog based on WordPress? Which tools do you use on your PC to manage it?

Yes, all of my blogs use WordPress. I find it easiest to get to know one system very well and to use that whenever appropriate. I use Dreamweaver as a code editor and for FTP. I’ve looked at some other code editors, but I learned using the code view of Dreamweaver and it’s always met my needs pretty well. I sometimes use Blogdesk (http://www.blogdesk.org/en/index.htm), which I think may be Windows only, for writing new posts.

What’s your opinion about Windows 7?

I really haven’t paid much attention to Windows 7 yet. I’m not a Windows fanboy, I just use it because it’s what I’ve always known, so it really doesn’t get me too excited. I’ll probably buy a new laptop sometime in the next year, so I guess at that point I’ll give it more thought.

Let’s talk about the Adobe CS suite for Windows. What’s your opinion about it? What would you change, what would you improve?

I use a lot of the Adobe products in my daily work. I’m sure I could easily replace Dreamweaver with something else, but I’d have a hard time not using Photoshop. I’ve been using Photoshop CS4 for about a year and really like working with it. I don’t have any gripes or suggestions for improvement, it really does everything I need it to do (and a lot more). I guess the one thing I would change about the CS products is to make them cost less. I don’t think Adobe would like that idea though.

Is there something of Windows interface you’d change? Or do you think it’s already perfect as it is?

I’m sure it’s not perfect but I don’t really have things that I would change. If I had experience with other operating systems I would probably have more thoughts about areas where I would like to see improvement, but it’s what I’ve always used and what I’m used to, so it works for me.

Have you ever thought of moving to a Mac?

Yeah, I have thought about it. The biggest issues for me are taking the time to learn a new system and the software changes that would come along with it. It’s just easier and quicker for me to stay with a PC and I have very little time to spare in my schedule.

As a designer / blogger, what would you like to receive for Christmas?

I could use a new scanner, so that would probably be my first choice. Last year I bought myself a Wacom tablet and I’ve hardly had the time to use it, so I’m hesitant to buy any new toys this year. Also, I always like to get new music to listen to while I’m working.

Thanks for chatting with us! And keep up the great work!

Thank you!